NZ shootings should spur us to ask ourselves if we celebrate diversity
tragic aftermath in New Zealand hangs heavy on us, with victims as young as 3 having to pay a price for the rhetoric about migrants and Islamophobia.
The Christchurch shootings show how such stigmatisation appeals to ideological perverts and bigots.
The United States’ AntiDefamation League reported that fatalities caused by white supremacists accounted for 73 per cent of lethal terrorism between 2010 and last year.
Dismissed as a small problem, a nativist predisposition in American politics breeds an apologist attitude.
In Canada, statistics paint a disturbing picture of prejudice driven by Islamophobia.
Last year, Islamic terrorism was considered more threatening than violence posed by white supremacists.
However, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden spread a message that a reductionist approach will not fix these gruesome incidents.
Keeping a level head, Ardern’s response to this dark event was an aberration.
She challenged Western hypocrisy by announcing that the violence was an act of terrorism.
The uniting message that she conveyed defended the values New Zealanders hold on to, even in the face of extremism.
The hijab worn by Arden and local women represents their solidarity with Muslims
Our intolerance and hatred will disappear only when ‘they are us’ means people feel included and belong to their nation and society.
around the world and shows a respect for religious freedom and inclusion of minorities.
Campaigners demonising hijab and the act of donning it as a symbol of female disempowerment cast a bad light on Muslim women who wear it, and vilify the benevolence of Ardern and New Zealanders.
We must also ask ourselves: to what extent has each of us tried to understand, learn, respect and celebrate diversity and differences in our lives?
Our intolerance and hatred will disappear only when “they are us” means people feel included and belong to their nation and society.